Cremation at the pyre: thermal destruction of human skeletal remains

Abstract

Introduction. Cremated skeletal remains are characterized by a high degree of fragmentation, which occurs both due to physical processes in the bone tissue and due to the actions of people who cremate the corpse. The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between the type of bone tissue, the degree of bone fragmentation, and the degree of burning of the organic component during cremation on a pyre.

Materials and methods. The materials (178 observations of the contents of fire pits) were obtained during the Russian-Indian anthropological expedition of the Paleoethnological Research Center and the State Biology Museum in 2018, 2019 and 2022. Observations were conducted in the city of Agra on the territory of the Tajganj cremation center. The duration of complete incineration of soft tissues was recorded, as well as the body size and the somatotype, using three-point assessment scales. In addition, the composition and condition of the cremated skeletal elements were described. Statistical tests for assessing the significance of differences were used to compare samples of spongy and compact bone tissue.

Results and discussion. The spongy bone of the vertebrae, sacrum and pelvis demonstrates a greater degree of destruction than the spongy bone of the femoral and tibial epiphyses. This is probably due to consequence of microstructural differences in the structure of spongy bones. The ochre color is more often observed in the spongy bone, and gray color – in the compact, which is explained by a larger proportion (and, accordingly, a lower degree of burnout) of organic matter in the spongy bone compared to the compact. A significant frequency of black color was recorded on the compact tissue of the long bone diaphyses, which is associated with the combustion of bone marrow under conditions of oxygen deficiency.

Conclusion. The duration and intensity of the flames of funeral pyres may not be sufficient to completely burn out the organic component of the bone. Significant fragmentation of skeletal remains can be achieved without intensive mechanical action. The degree of fragmentation of skeletal elements is not affected by the type of funeral pyre, the size and somatotype of the body, or the sex or age of the deceased.

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